Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex walking route: 23 places to see

Explore the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex's 23 major landmarks across 161 km, from Downtown Dallas and the Arts District to historic Dealey Plaza, vibrant Deep Ellum, and affluent Highland Park. This route covers cultural institutions like the Perot Museum and Dallas Museum of Art, iconic sites including Reunion Tower and the Sixth Floor Museum, plus distinctive neighborhoods such as Bishop Arts District and Knox-Henderson.

Mode
Places
Start
Downtown Dallas
End
Arts District
Stops
23
Video author
travmap
Updated

Stops on this route

  1. Downtown Dallas — Heart of Dallas and home to many international company headquarters.
  2. Arts District & Clyde Warren Park — Contemporary cultural hub featuring world-class museums, galleries, and theaters alongside a vibrant urban park with art installations and dining venues.
  3. Perot Museum of Nature and Science — Natural history and science museum with exhibits from dinosaurs to the solar system.
  4. Dallas Museum of Art — Collection of more than 24,000 objects dating from the third millennium BC to present day.
  5. Dallas World Aquarium — Features an artificial reproduction of the Orinoco rainforest on the upper level.
  6. Reunion Tower — Famous observation deck with a restaurant, the most recognized symbol of downtown Dallas.
  7. AT&T Discovery Center — Interactive installations in a high-tech park with jazz concerts and global restaurants.
  8. Dealey Plaza — Historic plaza where President John F. Kennedy was shot on November 22, 1963.
  9. John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza — Monument to Kennedy erected in 1970 near Dealey Plaza.
  10. Sixth Floor Museum — Museum with exhibits about the JFK assassination.
  11. Deep Ellum — Urban arts district featuring 20-foot tall art installations and street art.
  12. Highland Park — Affluent neighborhood ranked the seventh richest place in the United States.
  13. University Park, United States — Historic upscale shopping district adjacent to a presidential library and museum documenting the 43rd U.S. president's life and administration.
  14. Knox-Henderson — Vibrant nightlife district with tex-mex diners and gastropubs.
  15. Swiss Avenue — First planned development district in the U.S. with distinctive grand homes built in the 1920s.
  16. McKinney Avenue — Features lively bars and restaurants that attract young singles.
  17. Bishop Arts District — Located in West Dallas, home to boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries.
  18. Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge & Trinity River — Iconic white cable-stayed bridge spanning the revitalized Trinity River, offering scenic views and connecting downtown Dallas to emerging waterfront parks.
  19. White Rock Lake — One of the city's gems for outdoor recreation, spanning over 1,200 acres.
  20. Dallas Arboretum — Sprawling 66-acre botanical garden showcasing diverse plant collections, seasonal flowers, and scenic landscapes along White Rock Lake's eastern shore.
  21. Fort Worth — The second largest city in the metroplex, just 30 minutes away from Dallas by car.
  22. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport — One of the largest and busiest airports in the world.
  23. Arts District — Located in downtown, features Clyde Warren Park and cultural attractions.

Useful for your trip

Transport
Dallas and Fort Worth are 30 minutes apart by car. Downtown Dallas has underground tunnels like Houston to escape the heat. DART light rail system spans 85 miles across 61 stations.
Transport
Historic streetcars run downtown Dallas free to the public. However, car is still the primary mode of local transportation in the area.
Save money
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth offers free entrance on Fridays. Regular admission is $16-20, so visiting Friday saves money.
Food
Downtown Dallas has a great variety of restaurants including many Tex-Mex options. Dallas Farmers Market has local food, produce, and flavors from around the world.
Avoid
Deep Ellum district gets rowdy at night and doesn't feel family-friendly, though it's a trendy arts area during the day with bars and concert venues.
Tip
Highland Park has median home sale price of $1.8 million. Swiss Avenue features grand homes built in 1920s with strict deed restrictions requiring brick/masonry construction.
Tip
White Rock Lake spans over 1,200 acres offering kayaking, cycling, and outdoor recreation. Dallas Arboretum is a 66-acre botanical garden nearby with restaurants and live music.
Tip
Fort Worth Stockyards District hosts twice-daily cattle drives and retains Western movie set feel. Billy Bob's Texas claims to be world's largest honky tonk with regular concerts.
Tip
Fort Worth is 30 minutes from Dallas and offers more affordable living than Dallas with population of 927,000. Downtown is pedestrian-friendly with art deco buildings.
Timing
Fort Worth Botanic Garden is the oldest major botanic garden in Texas with Japanese gardens and seasonal changes. Cow Town Coliseum hosts rodeos every Friday and Saturday.
Tip
Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex covers 9,286 square miles (larger than New Jersey) with 8.1 million people. Area hosts 22 Fortune 500 companies and has GDP of $620 billion as of 2020.
Food
Knox-Henderson is one of the city's most vibrant nightlife districts packed with Tex-Mex diners, upscale gastropubs, and late night cafes.

Video on this route

Dallas - Fort Worth Metroplex: 4th Largest US Metro Area!

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